Monday mornings had settled into a routine Aiah never asked for.
Wake up.
Make coffee.
Open Gmail.
Hope for something new.
Close Gmail.
Tell herself not to check again for at least an hour.
She never lasted an hour.
Barely twenty minutes had passed before she refreshed her inbox again.
Nothing.
She let out a long sigh and rested her chin on the kitchen counter.
"I really need a hobby."
From the hallway, Ivy chuckled.
"I thought job hunting was your hobby these days."
Aiah looked over her shoulder just as her aunt walked into the kitchen, already dressed for work. Her handbag rested on one arm while she tied her hair into a low ponytail.
"I'd prefer a less stressful one."
"I can tell."
Ivy poured herself a cup of coffee before glancing at her niece.
"How many times have you checked your email this morning?"
Aiah pretended to think.
"...Tita, do you want the honest answer or the answer that makes me look responsible?"
"The honest one."
She smiled sheepishly.
"I lost count after breakfast."
Ivy laughed, shaking her head.
"I had a feeling."
"Was I that obvious?"
"You've been staring at your phone like it owes you money."
That earned a laugh from Aiah.
"I just..."
She searched for the right words.
"It feels strange."
"What does?"
"Spending years working toward something... then suddenly all I can do is wait."
Ivy nodded in understanding.
"The waiting is the hardest part."
"It really is."
She looked down at the untouched mug in front of her.
"I keep wondering if I should be doing more."
"You already are."
Aiah looked up.
"I've watched you revise your résumé more times than I can count."
"You updated your portfolio."
"You've been sending applications almost every week."
Ivy smiled gently.
"Now let the companies catch up."
Aiah chuckled.
"When you say it like that, it sounds easy."
"It isn't."
YOU ARE READING
My Last And My Only
FanfictionIf it's not you, it's not anyone, Aiah. Remember that.
